©SIRJOEL EXAM SOLUTIONS
10/10/2024 11:44 AM
NURS 331 Final Exam Questions With
Verified Answers.
What is the function of the brain? - answer✔Decision making, sensory interactions, regulation of
internal organs (ANS), transmit electrical & chemical signals between brain, tissues, and organs
What are the two different nervous systems in the body? - answer✔Central nervous system and
peripheral nervous system
What is the central nervous system comprised of? - answer✔spinal cord, brain stem, brain
What is the peripheral nervous system comprised of? - answer✔cranial nerves, spinal nerves,
somatic nervous system, and autonomic nervous system
What is the structure of a neuron? - answer✔Dendrites - receives electrical impulses
Cell body - contains ribosomes for the production of neurotransmitters
Axon (hillock) - Myelinated and transmits electrical impulses away from cell body.
Myelin - increases the velocity of transmission (quicker transmission)
Synapses - area between neurons where neurotransmitters exist
What is the function of the neuron? - answer✔Detects environmental changes, transmits data,
and initiates body responses
What do neurons need to function? - answer✔- GLUCOSE: constant supply needed for proper
functioning, without pt could experience seizures/death
- Oxygen/blood
What are the different neuroglia and what are each of their functions? - answer✔Astrocytes:
control blood vessels (vasoconstrict/dilate), process info, memory, synaptic function
Oligodendrocytes: form myelin sheath in CNS
Microglia: phagocytosis (cleaners)
, ©SIRJOEL EXAM SOLUTIONS
10/10/2024 11:44 AM
Schwann cells: form myelin sheath
Nonmyelinating Schwann cells: metabolic support
Ependymal: cover ventricles where CSF is produced
What happens when a nerve is damaged? - answer✔nerve cells do not divide, highly likely that
there is permanent loss of function
regeneration is dependent on location of damage, inflammatory responses, and scarring that
blocks transmission
*Crush injuries fare better than severed (if the crush is alleviated there is a possibility that the
patient can regain functioning)*
How do neurons communicate with each other? - answer✔the sending neuron releases
neurotransmitters across a synapse to the receiving neuron
neurotransmitters bind to receptor sites in adjacent neurons to communicate
Action potential must be achieved before message is sent
What is located in the forebrain? - answer✔cerebral cortex & limbic system (thalamus,
hypothalamus)
What is located in the midbrain? - answer✔red nucleus (sensory info), cerebral aqueduct (houses
CNS fluids)
What is located in the hindbrain? - answer✔cerebellum (balance), pons(sleep/arousal), medulla
oblongata (breathing)
What is the reticular activating system (RAS)? - answer✔located deep in hindbrain
CNS activity, function is essential for consciousness/ awareness
How much blood goes to the brain? - answer✔20% of total cardiac output
900 mL blood per min
What is the blood brain barrier (BBB)? - answer✔the semipermeable membrane the helps
maintain a stable environment in the CNS
selectively inhibits
Lipid-soluable medications can cross the BBB, important to understand when selecting different
medications
, ©SIRJOEL EXAM SOLUTIONS
10/10/2024 11:44 AM
What is the circle of willis? - answer✔a circle of arteries that supplies blood to the brain and
surrounding structures
Explain the three phases of neuronal conduction. - answer✔Resting: membrane is polarized, but
no electrical activity occurs (Na outside the axon, K inside the axon)
Depolarization: Na+ channels open allowing for a rapid inflow of ions that generate an impulse
(stimulus is applied and action potential is reached)
Repolarization: membrane permeable to K+ = efflux and return to resting
Explain how neurons communicate and transmit signals. - answer✔Presynaptic neuron creates
and stores messenger chemicals (neurotransmitters)
Neurotransmitters form synaptic vesicles and move toward synaptic cleft
Synaptic cleft releases neurotransmitters
Postsynaptic neurons have receptors that receive and bind to neurotransmitters
Neurotransmitters are responsible for neural function and once bind are removed (reuptake or
enzymes help breakdown)
What is a seizure? - answer✔sudden, transient disruption in brain electrical function
What is epilepsy? - answer✔Recurrent seizures of unknown cause
unpredictable, genetic predisposition, chronic disorder
Explain simple pathogenesis of seizures. - answer✔abnormalities in synaptic transmission
(communication between neurons is damaged)
imbalance of excitatory (glutamate) and inhibitory (GABA) transmitters
Development of abnormal nerves/synapses
Loss of nerves after injury
Genetic Link
What happens if there is too much of glutamate? What happens if there is too much GABA? -
answer✔Too much glutamate: nerve cells are too excited, can lead to brain damage
Too much GABA: drowsy/sleepy
What is the difference between partial (focal) and generalized seizures? - answer✔Partial (focal)
seizures: limited to one area in the brain
10/10/2024 11:44 AM
NURS 331 Final Exam Questions With
Verified Answers.
What is the function of the brain? - answer✔Decision making, sensory interactions, regulation of
internal organs (ANS), transmit electrical & chemical signals between brain, tissues, and organs
What are the two different nervous systems in the body? - answer✔Central nervous system and
peripheral nervous system
What is the central nervous system comprised of? - answer✔spinal cord, brain stem, brain
What is the peripheral nervous system comprised of? - answer✔cranial nerves, spinal nerves,
somatic nervous system, and autonomic nervous system
What is the structure of a neuron? - answer✔Dendrites - receives electrical impulses
Cell body - contains ribosomes for the production of neurotransmitters
Axon (hillock) - Myelinated and transmits electrical impulses away from cell body.
Myelin - increases the velocity of transmission (quicker transmission)
Synapses - area between neurons where neurotransmitters exist
What is the function of the neuron? - answer✔Detects environmental changes, transmits data,
and initiates body responses
What do neurons need to function? - answer✔- GLUCOSE: constant supply needed for proper
functioning, without pt could experience seizures/death
- Oxygen/blood
What are the different neuroglia and what are each of their functions? - answer✔Astrocytes:
control blood vessels (vasoconstrict/dilate), process info, memory, synaptic function
Oligodendrocytes: form myelin sheath in CNS
Microglia: phagocytosis (cleaners)
, ©SIRJOEL EXAM SOLUTIONS
10/10/2024 11:44 AM
Schwann cells: form myelin sheath
Nonmyelinating Schwann cells: metabolic support
Ependymal: cover ventricles where CSF is produced
What happens when a nerve is damaged? - answer✔nerve cells do not divide, highly likely that
there is permanent loss of function
regeneration is dependent on location of damage, inflammatory responses, and scarring that
blocks transmission
*Crush injuries fare better than severed (if the crush is alleviated there is a possibility that the
patient can regain functioning)*
How do neurons communicate with each other? - answer✔the sending neuron releases
neurotransmitters across a synapse to the receiving neuron
neurotransmitters bind to receptor sites in adjacent neurons to communicate
Action potential must be achieved before message is sent
What is located in the forebrain? - answer✔cerebral cortex & limbic system (thalamus,
hypothalamus)
What is located in the midbrain? - answer✔red nucleus (sensory info), cerebral aqueduct (houses
CNS fluids)
What is located in the hindbrain? - answer✔cerebellum (balance), pons(sleep/arousal), medulla
oblongata (breathing)
What is the reticular activating system (RAS)? - answer✔located deep in hindbrain
CNS activity, function is essential for consciousness/ awareness
How much blood goes to the brain? - answer✔20% of total cardiac output
900 mL blood per min
What is the blood brain barrier (BBB)? - answer✔the semipermeable membrane the helps
maintain a stable environment in the CNS
selectively inhibits
Lipid-soluable medications can cross the BBB, important to understand when selecting different
medications
, ©SIRJOEL EXAM SOLUTIONS
10/10/2024 11:44 AM
What is the circle of willis? - answer✔a circle of arteries that supplies blood to the brain and
surrounding structures
Explain the three phases of neuronal conduction. - answer✔Resting: membrane is polarized, but
no electrical activity occurs (Na outside the axon, K inside the axon)
Depolarization: Na+ channels open allowing for a rapid inflow of ions that generate an impulse
(stimulus is applied and action potential is reached)
Repolarization: membrane permeable to K+ = efflux and return to resting
Explain how neurons communicate and transmit signals. - answer✔Presynaptic neuron creates
and stores messenger chemicals (neurotransmitters)
Neurotransmitters form synaptic vesicles and move toward synaptic cleft
Synaptic cleft releases neurotransmitters
Postsynaptic neurons have receptors that receive and bind to neurotransmitters
Neurotransmitters are responsible for neural function and once bind are removed (reuptake or
enzymes help breakdown)
What is a seizure? - answer✔sudden, transient disruption in brain electrical function
What is epilepsy? - answer✔Recurrent seizures of unknown cause
unpredictable, genetic predisposition, chronic disorder
Explain simple pathogenesis of seizures. - answer✔abnormalities in synaptic transmission
(communication between neurons is damaged)
imbalance of excitatory (glutamate) and inhibitory (GABA) transmitters
Development of abnormal nerves/synapses
Loss of nerves after injury
Genetic Link
What happens if there is too much of glutamate? What happens if there is too much GABA? -
answer✔Too much glutamate: nerve cells are too excited, can lead to brain damage
Too much GABA: drowsy/sleepy
What is the difference between partial (focal) and generalized seizures? - answer✔Partial (focal)
seizures: limited to one area in the brain
